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Times-Shamrock
Top: Roster changes were frequent for the RailRiders in the first half of the season. Bottom: Brett Lillibridge dives for the ball.

They went into the All-Star break with a bang, and with the rehabbing Alex Rodriguez in the lineup tonight, they'll come out of it with the spotlight on them again.

The streaking Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will start an eight-game homestand tonight, with the first of four games against the Louisville Bats at PNC Field.

Rodriguez, who is rehabbing after offseason hip surgery, is scheduled to join the team tonight and play third base. He could be with the team through Sunday, when his 20-day rehab cycle ends. He has targeted a Monday return to the New York lineup.

In the meantime, he can help a once-listless RailRiders team that, since the calendar turned to July, cast itself into the International League playoff chase.

With the start of the ceremonial second half getting underway - the season is actually more than 67 percent complete - the RailRiders enter the post-All-Star break run at 48-49.

It's a mediocre record, for sure. But the RailRiders closed the first half on a 16-8 run that has cast them into the middle of the race.

After trailing International League East Division leader Pawtucket by 14½ games June 27, they're now just five out. In the race for the wild-card playoff berth, they're a mere three behind leader Norfolk.

Roster changes were a continuing storyline in the first half, and that's sure to continue after the break. Rodriguez is aboard, but the RailRiders have lost their No. 3 hitter, outfielder Fernando Martinez, and their do-everything utility man Addison Maruszak, both of whom were placed on the seven-day disabled list Wednesday.

That's not good news for a roster that figured to be down a top hitter tonight anyway. There's a chance outfielder Thomas Neal, as well as right-hander Chris Bootcheck and even manager Dave Miley, will not be at PNC Field for the start of tonight's game. All three represented the IL at the Triple-A All-Star Game in Reno, Nev., on Wednesday night, and depending on flight times and the potential for delays, it's possible they won't be able to report to the park until just around game time.

The Bats are the only team in the league the RailRiders have not yet played, and this is a big series because at 48-51, Louisville is trying to do what the RailRiders want to do: cement itself as a team to be reckoned with down the stretch.

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